SEBASTOPOL, CA — Jim “Bugsy” / “Oz” Moran, FOH engineer for Kenny Loggins, Huey Lewis and the News, Pablo Cruise and others, died Dec. 9 after a long illness at his home, surrounded by family members. He was 58.
A native of Erie, PA, Moran got involved with music engineering while still a member of his high school band, Quill Eller. After graduation, Moran headed to the San Francisco Bay area, supporting the audio needs for Elvin Bishop and Pablo Cruise before embarking on a long career mixing sound for Huey Lewis and the News in 1981 and Kenny Loggins in 1989.
Moran “lived life to the fullest,” recalled CJ Powell, longtime PM for Kenny Loggins and others. “He loved his wife, daughters, family, friends; worked hard all of his life — and was proud of it… He was always up early and did his ‘exploration walks’ first thing in the morning, even before lobby or breakfast call. He would get out and see everything that he could everywhere we went.
“He was hard to keep up with, whether it be working on stage, walking, hiking, biking, swimming or kayaking,” CJ continued. “Jim was definitely the definition of a real ‘Road Warrior,’ Powell continued. “He loved what he did, never complained, was never late, and was always happy to be working…you never had to ask him to help… He made us all better at what we do because he cared so much.”
At the time of his passing, Moran had his mother, Marion; his sister, Jane; his wife, Francy; and daughters, Andrea and Kimberly, at his side. A “Celebration of Life” was held in Sebastopol, CA on Dec. 12.
